Just got one of the top bicycles on my Top 5 wanted list, a 1915 Sears Chief thanks to CABE member Bricycle. Ever since RRB member "backpedaler" brought this bike to the surface in February 2012 (before Bri bought it) I had been wanting to see what's under that orange paint, now I'm getting my chance finally up close & personal. Here's an old pic of the Chief together & packed for shipping to me. This bike like my other early bikes will go back completely original.
Here's the first peek under the orange paint, dark red & ivory are still there but there is a good deal of missing paint. The ivory paint looks pretty amazing. The black pinstripes were there but will be lost getting the orange paint off. This orange paint may be the toughest paint I've ever seen. Xylene does absolutely nothing to it so I am having to use lacquer thinner very slowly so getting all the orange off is going to be a long slow careful process. Where I go from here depends on how much paint is there & how it looks. Not worried about the pinstripes they'll be reapplied & distressed to match the original paint for now. I would prefer to leave it original paint, put it back together & ride it, but if not enough paint is still on the bike it'll become a full restoration project which is not my first choice on any bike.
Bought the correct Sturmey Archer Tricoaster hub and shifter off ebay a couple of weeks ago so it will go back with the correct hubs. It's a little rough & needs a rebuild but it's all there minus the indicator rod & chain coupling. Came off a 1916 Chief.
Here's two accessories I bought last year waiting for a 1915 Chief to come along. 1915 Vesta Accumulator Light & canister and a 1915 Illinois bicycle license. Finally have something to use them on.
This bike will get 700c rims and cream Electra Amsterdams, already on order to make it a rider. Front hub will be a New Departure Model M and I already have a NOS one I bought off ebay from nostalgicdave. The only other items that will go on the bike will be leather grips already bought off a teens Westfield in decent condition last year & still need to find a Klaxon horn and maybe one day original Chief pedals. Hopefully I'll get to work on orange paint removal over the weekend.
Here's the first peek under the orange paint, dark red & ivory are still there but there is a good deal of missing paint. The ivory paint looks pretty amazing. The black pinstripes were there but will be lost getting the orange paint off. This orange paint may be the toughest paint I've ever seen. Xylene does absolutely nothing to it so I am having to use lacquer thinner very slowly so getting all the orange off is going to be a long slow careful process. Where I go from here depends on how much paint is there & how it looks. Not worried about the pinstripes they'll be reapplied & distressed to match the original paint for now. I would prefer to leave it original paint, put it back together & ride it, but if not enough paint is still on the bike it'll become a full restoration project which is not my first choice on any bike.
Bought the correct Sturmey Archer Tricoaster hub and shifter off ebay a couple of weeks ago so it will go back with the correct hubs. It's a little rough & needs a rebuild but it's all there minus the indicator rod & chain coupling. Came off a 1916 Chief.
Here's two accessories I bought last year waiting for a 1915 Chief to come along. 1915 Vesta Accumulator Light & canister and a 1915 Illinois bicycle license. Finally have something to use them on.
This bike will get 700c rims and cream Electra Amsterdams, already on order to make it a rider. Front hub will be a New Departure Model M and I already have a NOS one I bought off ebay from nostalgicdave. The only other items that will go on the bike will be leather grips already bought off a teens Westfield in decent condition last year & still need to find a Klaxon horn and maybe one day original Chief pedals. Hopefully I'll get to work on orange paint removal over the weekend.
